I’ve been a painting contractor for 13 years. I’ve learned what painters WILL and WON’T tell you. It’s really important you ask these questions before hiring anyone
If you need to hire a painter, use the link below. We’ve worked with and vetted over 12,000 painters and found the best ones:
5 Must-Ask Questions for Painters:
1. Are you licensed and insured?
This seems pretty basic but is extremely important. You would be amazed how many painting companies say they are licensed and insured but cannot provide the proper documentation.
If a painting company is licensed and insured, it should be pretty easy to send over a copy of insurance or licensing. The last thing you want is a lawsuit on your hands if something goes wrong and there is no insurance to protect you or your home.
2. Can you provide local customer references?
Always ask for references. If a painting company is hesitant to provide real customer references, this is a HUGE red flag. Also, quality companies should be able to provide references for work they’ve done locally (without you even asking). This will give you a chance to call the references and inquire about their experience, or drive by the referenced home and see the quality of work first hand.
3. How do you prepare the home before painting it?
This is a BIG one.
This question could make or break the deal for the painter you are choosing. The prep-work required for house painting is EVERYTHING. It’s also where many painters cut corners.
If a painter does not emphasize their step-by-step process on correctly preparing your home, DON’T choose them as your contractor. If a home has failing areas like peeling, fading or chalking, it is imperative that it is prepped well. If not prepped correctly, the paint job will fail within a couple years (if not sooner).
4. What type of paint are you using?
Prep-work and quality of materials: The two most important factors in a paint job that lasts.
Always ask what brand of materials the painting company is going to use on your home. This includes the actual paint, caulking, primer etc.
Do your own research on the brands to make sure they are quality and durable. We actually surveyed 12,000 contractors on what the best exterior house paint, here are the results.
You do not want contractor-grade (AKA Cheap) materials used on your house. The labor is usually the most expensive part of a paint job, so make sure they are using high-end materials. Most painters will let you change the materials used on the house if you request it.
What kind of guarantee/warranty do I get?
You’ll want to choose a painting company that stands behind their work. This is usually demonstrated with some sort of warranty like a 3-year, 5-year, or 8-year. The warranty should cover BOTH Labor AND Materials should areas of the paint job fail.
Sometimes painting companies will offer a good warranty but not cover the labor or materials should they have to return. This defeats the whole purpose of a warranty. This means YOU’RE STILL PAYING if they have to return.
Make sure they cover all costs should the paint job fail and make sure the company will actually be around for the next 6-8 years so they can cover the warranty.
Summary
A bad paint job can cost you dearly. Unfortunately there are many unreliable painters out there. These 5 questions will help you decide who’s best.
Again, if you need a solid painting contractor, use our list for free. We’re the only painting company that refers other painters, so we know what to look for:
Thank you for reading! May your next hiring decision be a wise one!
Sincerely,
Chandler Zieg,
PainterChoice